Sam Kerr and the CommBank Matildas insist the key to advancing is concentrating inward as they prepare for the matildas vs north korea quarter-final on Friday evening (ET), following a pre-match press conference in Perth on Thursday (ET). Kerr and Head Coach Joe Montemurro said the technical staff studied DPR Korea’s final group match to shape their preparation. The team highlighted injuries to two players but expressed confidence in squad depth and tactical clarity.
Matildas Vs North Korea: preparation, injuries and the plan
Captain Sam Kerr said the squad is focused on its own performance rather than external factors, pointing to recent matches as building blocks. “We just have to be prepared for everything, focus on ourselves, and stay focused in the moment, ” Sam Kerr, CommBank Matildas captain, said at the official press conference. Head Coach Joe Montemurro added that the technical staff watched DPR Korea’s final group stage match closely to identify patterns and inform training choices. “The game against China gave us a bit of an idea of where they’re at and how we’re going to prepare for it, ” Joe Montemurro, Head Coach, said.
Montemurro confirmed two absences for the fixture: Hayley Raso and Steph Catley will be unavailable, and he said the squad has the necessary cover. “We’ve got enough backup in our squad – and we believe in the backup that we’ve got – to come in and make those replacements, ” Montemurro said. The coach stressed that preparation has emphasized the team’s strengths and the timing of specific actions rather than wholesale tactical shifts.
Immediate reactions from players and staff
“Playing all around the world, we’ve faced many different opponents. We just have to be prepared for everything, ” Sam Kerr, CommBank Matildas captain, said, highlighting that several players had not previously played in the Asian Cup. Joe Montemurro, Head Coach, noted lessons drawn from a recent group-stage draw against Korea Republic, pointing to moments when the team defaulted to going long at the wrong times. “Possession-based football is also playing the long pass or the pass beyond lines sometimes. It’s more about educating them on when and where to do it, ” Montemurro said.
Quick context
The technical staff used DPR Korea’s match with China PR as a scouting benchmark to understand Korea DPR’s current form. The Matildas earlier played Korea Republic in the group stage and identified that match as a useful precursor for the quarter-final challenge.
What’s next
The Matildas plan to prioritize ball retention and improved timing of long passes as they look to peak for the knockout tie on Friday evening (ET). With squad adjustments required by the absences of Raso and Catley, attention will turn to how replacements execute the coaching plan under pressure. The team says it expects to lift its performance and deliver its best showing yet in the matildas vs north korea match as the tournament progresses.
